BULAWAYO – Delta Corporation has announced a US$35 million investment to upgrade its Belmont Lagers Manufacturing Plant in Bulawayo, a project the company says will restore the city’s industrial pride and boost local employment and production capacity.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, Delta Corporation board chairman Todd Moyo described the development as a “historic moment” symbolising both a tribute to the company’s legacy and a bold step into the future.
“This project reconnects with our history and heritage as this site, which dates back to 1950, carries the company symbol and name of the Sable House Head Office in Harare,” said Moyo.
“What we are witnessing today is both a tribute to our legacy and an investment in our future.”
The Belmont brewery — originally opened in 1950 and later merged with Rhobrew in 1952 — was the birthplace of Delta’s national beer production.
The latest expansion will see the installation of a new brewhouse, a second packaging line, fermentation vessels, and ancillary equipment, increasing total output to 1.5 million hectolitres per year.
Moyo said the new brewhouse and packaging project alone will cost about US$17 million, forming part of Delta’s broader multi-year capital investment programme valued at US$40–50 million annually.
The expansion is expected to create hundreds of construction and operational jobs, with most contractors and artisans sourced locally. Delta also emphasised its continued partnership with local suppliers, farmers, and logistics providers to reinforce Zimbabwe’s value chain.
“This project is not only about beer. It is about jobs, skills, and growth,” Moyo said. “It will create employment during construction and support livelihoods, especially from Bulawayo and surrounding communities.”
Delta, Zimbabwe’s largest beverages manufacturer, remains one of the biggest contributors to the national fiscus, paying between US$18 and US$20 million per month in taxes and levies such as excise duty, VAT, PAYE, and sugar tax.
Moyo urged the Bulawayo City Council and ZESA to ensure consistent water and power supplies to sustain industrial operations, noting that such infrastructure is essential for both business and community well-being
He highlighted ongoing collaborations with the city, including resurfacing Lemington Road, installing a water line into Umguza, and expanding sections of the Harare highway near Fairbridge Brewery.
“We call upon the City Council to continue prioritising water provision for industry and the community,” he said. “The Shangani Dam and Nyamandhlovu aquifer projects are vital for Bulawayo’s water security and the sustainable growth of this region.”
The Delta chairman said the investment was a strong statement of confidence in Bulawayo’s potential as Zimbabwe’s industrial hub.
“While many industries have moved north to Harare, Delta remains deeply rooted in Bulawayo,” he said. “We reaffirm our faith in this great city, its people, its industrious spirit, and its future.”
Moyo closed his remarks by calling the project a “foundation for another 70 years of innovation, growth, and excellence.”
“Let this new brewhouse stand as a monument to industrial rebirth, national pride, and the enduring spirit of the City of Kings,” he said.
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